Tis the season to start hunting for internships. Whether you’re looking for winter break or looking ahead to this summer, it’s never too early to start looking for internships. The process can seem intense though. You will be submitting a great deal of applications and hopefully go on just as many interviews. Sometimes in the midst of the chaos it’s hard to decipher if an opportunity is a good one and while I’m not a professional, here are five green flags to look for in an internship.
an established intern program
This green flag was very important to me when I started looking for internships. When a company has an established intern program it means they have experience with interns and normally they’ll have other professional development opportunities. At my previous internship we had several workshops we could attend to learn how to craft a good resume and how to network. We even had a volunteer day!
It’s paid
It is 2022, and interns deserve to be paid for their time. While I understand the thought behind only doing an internship for experience, in this economy it is near impossible to do an internship for free and still manage to get by financially. Plus, being paid is motivation to produce your best work.
Good company culture
This may seem obvious but a good company culture is essential when looking for an internship. You’ll be spending a lot of time with this company so you want to make sure it’s a good environment. Some things to look for are how previous employees feel about the company or how the company celebrates achievements.
Opportunity for employment
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Many interns’ ultimate goal is to be offered full time employment after college. If that’s what you’re looking for, make that a priority in your search. Don’t be afraid to ask in the interview process if that is a possibility. The interview is also about making sure this position would fit YOUR needs, as much as you would fit theirs.
chance to try different skills
As a young adult, sometimes we think we know exactly what we want and most of the time we’re wrong. Before my internship this summer I thought I would never like video production. Turns out, I was wrong. I had to make several videos during my time and I loved it. So much so, that I even signed up for a video production class this semester. All I’m saying is if an internship pushes you out of your comfort zone that isn’t always a bad thing.
As I mentioned before I am no pro at finding internships, but these green flags are a good thing to keep in mind when looking for your best fit. Happy internship hunting!